Peel ply masking device for an adhesive bonded attachment

Abstract

A peel ply conformable masking device for protectively overlying a pre-cleaned bonding surface of an adhesive attachment adapted for bonded affixation to a selected substrate, such as an adhesive attachment of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,013,391 and 6,773,780 having a bonding surface circumscribing a temporary attachment member for holding the attachment against the substrate for the duration of a bonding agent cure time. The bonding surface of the adhesive attachment is pre-cleaned as by sand blasting and/or etching, and the masking device comprising a peel-off film carrying a thin layer of a peel-off adhesive is placed thereover to prevent contamination thereof. The masking device includes at least one aperture surrounding the temporary attachment member, and further includes at least one outwardly protruding and easily grasped pull tab for facilitated peel-off separation from bonding surface immediately prior to bonded affixation to the selected substrate.

1. In an adhesive attachment having a bonding surface substantially circumscribing a temporary attachment device for receiving a curable bonding agent used for adhesive fixation of said attachment to a substrate, a method of mounting the adhesive attachment, comprising the steps of:
 initially overlying the attachment bonding surface with a peel ply masking device comprising a conformable film ply having a body segment formed from a substantially fluid impervious material, and a peel-off adhesive material carried by said film ply body segment for removably mounting said body segment onto the attachment bonding surface in intimate, substantially overlying fit relation therewith to prevent contamination thereof, said peel ply masking device having a central aperture formed therein in surrounding relation to the temporary attachment device; 
 peeling off the film ply and the peel-off adhesive material as a unit from the attachment bonding surface to expose the attachment bonding surface; 
 applying the curable bonding agent onto the attachment bonding surface; and 
 adhering the adhesive attachment to the substrate by means of the temporary attachment device for the duration of a cure time for the curable bonding agent applied to the bonding surface, whereby the adhesive attachment is affixed to the substrate by the bonding agent. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1  wherein said film ply further includes at least one pull tab projecting outwardly from said body segment. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2  wherein said at least one pull tab projects outwardly beyond said peel-off adhesive material. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1  further including a step of forming said film ply from a material selected from the group consisting essentially of polyimide and polyester film material. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4  wherein said forming step comprises forming said film ply to have a thickness of about 0.001 inch. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1  further including a step of forming said peel-off adhesive material from the group consisting essentially of acrylic and silicone adhesives.